Brazill Attorney To Seek Delay In Sentencing

An attorney for Nathaniel Brazill will ask a judge today to delay the 14-year-old's sentencing hearing for 30 days, allowing time to sift through offers of legal help and arrange for expert witnesses.

Robert Udell said he has been inundated with calls from people who want to help Brazill, who was convicted May 16 in the second-degree murder of Lake Worth Middle School teacher Barry Grunow.

The delay is needed, Udell said, so he can find out whether these experts will help his client, who faces up to 25 years in prison.

"They range from truly sincere to wackos," Udell said. "Some are truly interested in Nathaniel. They are people who think they have something to add."

The offers are coming from experts on everything from child psychology to the effects of adult prison life on children, he said.

"They can't all come at the drop of a hat," he said. "It's a timing problem."

Udell also said it could be a financial problem if those experts don't provide their services for free.

In addition to expert testimony, Udell said he plans to have half a dozen family members present in court to testify during the hearing, as well as four members of the community.

A hearing is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. today because of Udell's delay request. Circuit Court Judge Richard Wennet had set the sentencing hearing for June 29.

Udell already has asked for a new trial based on what he said was new evidence about Brazill's grades. That motion was expected to be considered at Brazill's sentencing hearing. He also has said he plans to appeal Brazill's conviction.

Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder conviction for Brazill, but a nine-woman, three-man jury convicted him of second-degree murder.

On the last day of school in 2000, Brazill, then 13, returned to Lake Worth Middle School after he was sent home for throwing water balloons. Brazill brought with him a stolen .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun, which he cocked and pointed at Grunow's head.

Brazill also was convicted of aggravated assault with a firearm, for pointing the handgun at math teacher John James after Grunow was shot. That charge carries a sentence of between three and 15 years.

Kathy Bushouse can be reached at kbushouse@sun-sentinel.com, or 561-243-6641. Kevin Krause can be reached at kkrause@sun-sentinel.com, or 561-243-6604.